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10/2/2009 - Asheville's renaissance: How did we get here, will it continue? by Asheville Citizen Times

Asheville has come a long way since I was a boy growing up in Western North Carolina. Not all that long ago, downtown was a place you did not go often, and certainly not at night. Many of our currently cool, unique, quirky call it what ever adjective you will places like Lexington Avenue and Wall Street, were mostly boarded up.

Back then, no one was saying, Lets keep Asheville the way it is. Asheville the way it was meant dying, dingy and dirty. Frankly, no one really cared much about downtown. I know many of you reading this did not grow up here, and must find this statement hard to believe. Asheville was not always this way. How did we get where we are today? On the backs of entrepreneurs. Now we call them visionaries; back then they were simply nuts. Many of them opened a small business in an abandoned downtown. They took huge risks, went against convention and even common sense a common trend among entrepreneurs. They invested their blood, sweat, tears and precious greenbacks to pursue their passion and follow their hopes and dreams. In doing so, many failed and lost it all. But by their collective efforts, our city became all we know and love today. Entrepreneurial spirit What was it that helped all those entrepreneurs and visionaries create what we enjoy today? Well, certainly, it was the spirit of the entrepreneurs themselves. I suggest they were much like those in our nations infancy who headed west to make a better life for themselves. They did not know exactly what to expect; they did not know how they would make it. But they had themselves to rely on. They created their own sustainability, if you will. They were not scared of the risk. Their passion for something better drove them. We owe a collective debt of gratitude to the pioneers who took those risks. Where would our nation be without them? Where would our city be without them? Werent the entrepreneurs who started Ashevilles current renaissance (not our first by the way) doing essentially the same thing? Sure they were, and like those who headed west we owe those entrepreneurs and risk-takers our gratitude for what we have, and often take for granted today. Look what happened in the last 10 years here when our modern entrepreneurs went west West Asheville that is another renaissance. It is because of all of them, success or not, that Asheville appears on many top 10 lists. Beautiful mountains and our natural world: thank God. Great restaurants: thank the entrepreneurs. Great art: thank the entrepreneurs. Great shopping: thank the entrepreneurs you get the idea. Many now say, Lets keep Asheville the way it is. I think this would be the beginning of our demise, and it has happened to Asheville before. We must continue to grow, but before you stop reading, I am not suggesting we cut down all the trees and pave over everything. I am suggesting that to continue our renaissance, we must embrace the entrepreneurs who got us here. We must not lose, but vigilantly protect, and continue to create a culture and an environment so that entrepreneurs can thrive. They will take the risks and invest their hearts and souls. If you love Asheville, it is your job to support them, and in doing so, you will keep our renaissance alive. Local support vital So, how do you support an entrepreneur? There are so many ways: Buy local. It might be cheaper online, but the cost to Asheville could be the loss of small businesses and jobs.

Streamline government. Ensure our local government makes it easy for entrepreneurs to do business. Dine in our local restaurants and cook with products from local farms. Invite your friends and family to visit Asheville. Experience and purchase art from Asheville. Support those organizations that help create and grow small business, such as the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Mountain BizWorks and A-B Techs Small Business Center. Visit our River Arts District. Theres an exciting renaissance going on right now down by the river. Play in the parks or go to an artists workshop. Welcome new small businesses with open arms. Say thanks to the entrepreneur, not just for the service you receive, but for contributing to the fabric of Asheville. Everybodys talking about sustainability now. Green is everywhere. By supporting entrepreneurs, we can guarantee Ashevilles sustainability. Love Asheville? Thank the entrepreneurs.

Testimonials

"Jody was friendly, efficient and LISTENED to us and our needs. I would recommend him to friends and family." ~Dennis and Cathy

"We loved working with Sean. He made sure we understood what was going on at each step and helped us work through a difficult process that was complicated by estate closing issues with the home we were buying. He was very patient as we looked at a number of homes in different areas of town. We started out with a different idea of where we wanted to live and helped us through our change in direction. We wound up in a great location in the Black Mountain area. He and Mike also helped us find craftsmen to do some needed rehab work on the house before we moved in. We highly recommend T&M [...]

"Sean was a dream. He made this easy and he worked really hard for us! Sean Mack was professional, friendly, attentive, hard working and kind throughout our whole process. He completely understood what we wanted and worked hard to show us the best houses he could find. He went beyond any expectation. Sean truly made this fun and kept our momentum going even in this tough market. We trusted him every step of the way. I would (and do!) recommend him to everyone looking for a home. In the end that is what he did, found our [...]

"I'm not sure what to call the quality that Dana has that made it so easy and such a pleasure to deal with her: laid back but prompt, patient but persistent, sincere & trustworthy. There were several points where I marveled at her ability to wait for us to resolve our indecision, to always seem like she had all the time in the world when I knew she was on a pretty tight schedule. She made it easy, and we are very grateful."

"Beth, is the most personable agent I have ever worked with. She was patient, understanding, asked great questions, and was very concerned that we get the right house for us. She also worked very well with the seller and her agent. When it came time to negotiating a deal, she got us exactly what we wanted. I highly recommend Beth to be your next real estate agent."

~ Frank J. Yurchak

"This was my first home-buying experience. It ended up being a 2-year-long journey in a challenging real estate market. Dana Wingate helped me navigate that process with absolute patience, expertise and support. I could not have asked for a more perfect agent. Not only have I come away from this process with my dream home, but I've also gained a friend. Town & Mountain is lucky to have her, and so was I!" ~ Victoria M.

"My husband and I worked with Lorraine as we contemplated a move to Asheville. She listened carefully to what we were interested in and targeted the market carefully to show us areas and properties that would meet our needs. She has a terrific personality, knows the area very well, and clearly cares about providing great service to her clients. She makes the process of looking for property and/or homes efficient and enjoyable. After we left Asheville, she was able to keep us updated with emails of listings filtered for our specific requests. I would wholeheartedly recommend [...]

"Luiz Leonetti was helpful and professional during the whole process. We're truly satisfied!" ~ Fabiana R.

"We love Steve Heiselman! He helped us purchase our "dream home" & then helped us sell our previous home quicker than we had expected. Recommend him highly."

"Jody is fun, professional, and fired-up about being an awesome real estate broker in Asheville. He put up with our need to micromanage alot of the process - good humored throughout the whole ex perience. We will continue to turn to Jody for all our future real estate transactions." ~anonymous

"Leah Miller is a joy to work with! She worked extremely hard to finalize my dreams of owning my first home. She has a great way of listening to her clients' needs and goes above and beyond to make it happen. She is bright, knowledgeable, and resourceful. She loves what she does and it is apparent in every interaction. As a new home buyer, I felt completely comfortable and trusted her judgment implicitly. After getting to know her throughout this process, I would also call her a friend. I highly recommend her!"

"I am so glad that I got to work with Aviva Pitt during the purchase of my new house. She is professional and always made herself available to take phone calls, meet me at various listings, and get answers to the tough, home buying questions. Her understanding personality made the entire experience smooth and convenient. Her experience and dedication was instrumental to the close of my new home. The house buying process went so well that now I am having her sell my old house. I recommend seeking out Aviva Pitt for when you need a rock star realtor."

"It is with pleasure and gratitude that we share comments about our experience with Kat Smith on the selling of our property. Kat was professional, comprehensive, and responsive. She did a great job marketing our property. We highly recommend, and have recommended Kat to anyone who wants a quality professional realtor experience." ~ Heather and Alan J.

"Beth did a great job of representing my wife and I both in the sale of our current home and in the purchase of our new home. Beth went above and beyond in offering her assistance with any questions that we encountered and also for the buyers and their agent that purchased our home. Beth was willing to meet us to show properties on a schedule that worked well with ours. She was always willing to answer any phone calls or text messages when the need arose. I would highly recommend Beth to anyone looking to either buy or sell a [...]

"Chris Tuten was amazing- both in the sale of our old house and the purchase of a new house. He dealt with every challenge with patience, grace, and humor which was a great help to us during a time when stress levels were overwhelming. We highly recommend him to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, friendly agent who puts your needs first." ~ Rae G.

"I bought my house from long distance without ever seeing it in person as I was living abroad. Kat did an excellent job of understanding what type of house in what type of neighborhood would suite my needs and life style. She was very helpful in providing short videos to give me a better sense of a property that I wanted to get a better feel for."

"My wife and I have bought and sold 5 homes, all using different agents. Selling our home in Weaverville, Jessi and Luiz went above and beyond any agent we have ever used. Jessi, especially, was right beside us throughout the entire process. Even after a failed contract, we were able to find a new buyer within a week. We will surely recommend anyone we know to them that is trying to sell their home or relocate to the Asheville area." ~ Allen U.

"Beth went above and to help us find the right house. When the first house didnt work out, she was patient and encouraged us not to get to discouraged. She was ALWAYS available for questions and concerns, and she's also just a cool person in general:) Thanks Beth!!" ~ Katie

"Mike and his team rocks! this was a tough property to sell, but we got it done at a reasonable price."

~ Jeffrey

"Beth was great to work with. She really listened and understood that we were atypical buyers and so she adapted her methods to our style in a way that worked. She was quick to respond and also handled the offer/ counteroffer process with great communication and time estimates. She really knows the Asheville and surrounding area markets. So happy with the process and also to recommend her."

"Excellent communicator and always on your side. We felt privileged to work with Aviva. Her attitude is always positive and reassuring, even when tough situations arise. Highly recommended!" ~ MR

"Lorraine always returned my phone calls ASAP and was very prompt for our appointments. Very thorough in her research of properties to ensure it was what we were looking for and was there every step of the way from making an offer through the closing!"

"Highly experienced, good communication."

"We had a great experience selling our house with Jody every step of the way. He provided thorough explanations, solid advice on repairs and pricing, and quick responses to any questions. Jody helped us set a price that was competitive but attractive enough to generate a lot of viewings immediately. As a result, we ended up getting well above asking price in only 48 hours! He was excellent at helping us to prioritize multiple offers and took care of all of the pre-closing tasks so we could concentrate on our move. Cannot recommend Jody highly enough!" ~Melissa B.

"Justin has been awesome to work with, very friendly agent who worked very hard to help me find the property that best fit my needs. I would highly recommend Justin to others and will enlist his help in the future!" ~ CJ

"Once again, Mike Miller was more than patient and thorough from beginning to end on this property. I recommend him whenever I get the chance!!" ~ Katie K.

"Jody - you are the best! Thank you so much for your attention, your calm & positive demeanor, and all of your help in buying our first home! :)" ~Emily and Adam

"I wish I could give Luiz ten stars. We couldn't have been more pleased with our buying experience. He paid attention to our needs, worked hard to find houses to show us, was patient as we viewed hom es, and was extremely knowledgeable about the entire process. When we found our home, Luiz handled the negotiations perfectly, and we are thrilled with our new home. I can't think of a single complaint about the entire process. With the Asheville housing market being so competitive and fast, I think it's so important to have a realtor who is engaged, informed, and stays on top of [...]

"Mike Miller and his daughters (Sophie & Leah Miller) worked very hard to make our townhouse purchase possible. Mike arranged multiple site visits and provided insight on the proper steps to follow in the process. We would recommend Mike to our friends who are looking into the housing market."

"Amanda Boren was outstanding and very patient in helping us sell our house in Black Mountain. She was great to work with on the house sale and very helpful during the closing process."

"We could not imagine a better agent than Luiz - professional, friendly, proactive, and a pleasure to work with at every stage of the process. We're tempted to buy another house just so we can work with Luiz again!" ~ Van & Jen K.
"My wife and I found our forever home thanks to Luiz! He made a challenging process enjoyable and he made a confusing process clear & understandable. I wish we needed to buy another house just so we could work with Luiz!" ~Van [...]

"Sue was professional and fun. She helped us find what we wanted in a home and was great at negotiating for what we wanted. She also helped us understand the ins and outs of buying a home." ~ Melissa R.

"My agent Jeff Jelinek went above and beyond every thing a realtor could possibly do to help us find a new home. I will always remember how he went through several homes, tirelessly and with out any pressure to sell. His capabilities and resolve to only find us a home for the reason we needed one. Many thanks Jeff." ~ John B.

"Mary's professionalism and consideration were greatly appreciated. We would highly reccomend her toany friends or family. First time buying can be overwhelming and she helped to make it comfortableand was able to help us understand everything clearly. We had a "few" questions and she answered them with care. Thank you."

"Dana has always been supportive and helpful - and more importantly never hesitates to tell us when we are going in the wrong direction. She helped us find the PERFECT forever home!"

"I always felt like Steve was available for my questions and he responds so fast and with a sense of humor." ~ Katie D.

"Andy was an invaluable resource during our home buying experience and made sure we were informed during every step of the way. He served as a great negotiator on our behalf, made sure all of our paperwork was complete and on schedule, and was always quick to respond to any questions we had. He was also great to just discuss our needs and how individual properties could or could not meet them. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to make a home purchase in the Asheville Area! Very happy with his responsiveness, willingness to discuss issues, and flexibility to meet my needs. Andy [...]

" Leah's awesome! My wife and I definitely lucked out! Leah was the gift. The house we bought was just a constellation prize."

"You can't find anyone better at their job than Kat. She knows the market and sincerely enjoys working with and helping people. Her ability to be savvy, creative, and hilarious really decreases stress for her clients. I can't recommend her enough."

"Hilary had excellent customer service. She notified me right away when a property was listed that met my criterion. She responded to my texts and emails immediately even when she was on vacation. I received all of the paperwork I requested within a day (Home Owner Association covenants etc). It was a pleasure to work with her. Thank you Hilary!" ~ Robin W.

"Gretchen was awesome. Thank you so much for your help purchasing our new home! We love it, and the process was easy compared to what I was expecting. You were endlessly helpful and walked us through the process in a clear, concise way. Thanks for putting in so much time and effort with us! You're the best!" ~ Caroline

"Jody sold 2 houses for me and helped me buy a third in the last year. He is a very positive and upbeat person to work with. He has an in-depth knowledge of the Asheville market which helped me find the perfect home, as well as sell two houses. Jody was very responsive to my questions and concerns - he always returned phone calls/texts. He provided good guidance from setting price points through making offers. I wouldn't buy or sell a house without him." ~Sue W.

"Mike served as our agent for both the sale of our home in Madison County and the purchase of our home in East Asheville. His decades of experience in this market and his strong network of relationships within the real estate business served us well on both the buyer and seller sides. Whenever we hit a bump in the road, he was there to help us work through it with knowledge and good humor. He's extremely fair and even handed and was as pleasant and helpful on the 40th or 50th home we looked at as he was on the very first. He gets my heartiest recommendation."

"Working with Lorraine has been such a pleasant experience. We bought our first house in 2014 and Lorraine walked is through everything, she answered all of our questions - no matter how bizarre. She would always respond in a timely manner and would go above and beyond to do anything she could to help. When our family expanded this year we needed a larger place and we did not hesitate to call Lorraine. We were able to sell our house and purchase our dream home. Lorraine worked with our time crunch and was able to get us an amazing deal. I highly recommend Lorraine [...]

"Justin was knowledgeable, thorough and energetic. It was a great experience, both, buying our new house AND selling the old. Thanks Justin!" ~Jacob

"Lorraine made looking for a home a fun adventure. She went over and above in taking us to properties in Asheville and the surrounding areas. She is very knowledgeable about the community, as well as being open and honest. Besides all of this, she is easy to talk to and answered all our questions. If you are looking for a good real estate agent, call Lorraine; I highly recommend her."

"Kenny Horton did a great job. Really enjoyed working with him. After talking to him on the phone, I decided to work with him instead of my realtor. He took care of me while keeping the buyer aware of the delay in financing. Everything worked out great. I would love to work with/use Kenny in the future. Thanks."

"Lorraine is the greatest!!! We live in upstate NY and plan to relocate to the Asheville, NC area. Lorraine is making the relocation process go so smoothly. Before meeting her in person we communicated via email, phone and text. Once we arrived in Asheville, Lorraine spent 2 days taking us around the area showing us houses. We are so lucky to have found Lorraine and highly recommend her to anyone looking for a real estate agent who is extremely knowledgeable, goes the extra mile and is very personable."

"We loved working with Kat, she is easy to talk to and straight forward. I would highly recommend using her, our family is so happy to have found her!"